Drake silently considered Lord Frostlight’s motivations and claims as he debated how to handle her offer. One thing he would give this world was that knowing people could only say what they believed made decisions like this a lot less complicated. Unless Lord Frostlight herself had been tricked.
Yet why would her allies have tricked her in regards to killing the old Lord Frostlight? They’d wanted exactly what they had right now—a Lord Frostlight as part of their alliance—and until today, this former assassin had no reason to sell out her allies. Until today, she’d had no idea they could trick blood thralls into unwittingly betraying their lords.
Yet now that Drake had revealed there was a blood thrall who could alter what people saw, Lord Frostlight knew she, too, was vulnerable. So it made sense she’d seize on Drake’s implication that the big four were also trying to deceive the noble court and run with it. She’d hopped onto the train he’d started to survive.
So now... the question was whether he’d cooperate with Lord Frostlight or continue to try to handle this with Sky. The first part of figuring that out would be hearing her plan.
“You’ve convinced me to listen,” Drake said. “So let’s hear your plan and why you need me for it.”
Frostlight smiled. “To start, Lord Gloomwood, you will agree to be arrested.”
“I’m out,” Drake said.
“Please hear her out before you decide,” the Judge said crossly. “And this would be protective custody.” Her glare at Lord Frostlight made the woman’s smile fade.
Drake glanced at the Judge. “In my world, those are pretty much the same thing.”
The Judge watched him calmly. “I told you my inquisitors have no proof Lord Redbow was responsible for placing the sea gate that summoned those kromians into the Chamber of Council. We do, however, have testimony stating you were involved.”
Drake pondered smashing the door open and making a break for it. Even if he managed to regenerate through Lord Frostlight’s windshear and whatever magical bullshit the Judge’s ultimatum was capable of, he’d never make it. Also, fleeing would make him look guilty.
“Testimony from a thrall?” Drake asked. “Who we now know could be mistaken?”
“That is the only reason I have not already ordered you arrested,” the Judge said. “That, and the fact that you willingly confessed your crime of trading magical artifacts with Lord Skybreak despite knowing it would lead to you being censured. I believe, perhaps foolishly, that you genuinely wish to atone for your crimes and improve your standing with the noble court.”
“They weren’t my crimes.” Drake raised one hand as the Judge tried to correct him. “But we’re arguing semantics. So, you’re asking me to let myself be arrested?”
“I’m trusting that you are the manor lord you claim to be. A lord who saved the son of his sworn enemy despite it being easier to allow him to die. A lord who risked his life to stop a demon summoning. And a lord who would never seek to deceive the noble court.”
That last one was dangerously close to getting him executed for an unforgivable crime. The Judge didn’t know he could lie. She could never know. But it was reassuring to hear she still trusted him. So how long would she continue to trust him if he refused to cooperate?
“I didn’t place that gate there, nor did Lydia,” Drake said. “Also, it would have been stupid of me to place that gate there, since the arrival of those kromians led to the death of my only ally in the chamber other than Lord Skybreak.” Even if Blackmane had been a lecher. “It also ended a cabal where I was this close to getting answers as to who was behind all this.”
“We were this close,” Lord Frostlight corrected with a dangerous smile.
“That is another reason you are not under arrest,” the Judge said. “Now that I know it is possible to fool our people, I am hesitant to trust any testimony we receive without further verification. By allowing my inquisitors to so easily find evidence that you were behind the sea gate, your enemy has taken one step too many. I believe it is possible for you to be mentally unwell, but I have trouble believing you are this mentally unwell.”
“Check back with me after a couple more weeks of this bullshit,” Drake said. “So you know I didn’t summon fish people because it would be the stupidest thing I could possibly do, and our grand plan starts with me being taken into protective custody. Then what?”
“We will announce to the other manor lords that we have testimony implicating you in placing the sea gate in Lord Blackmane’s box,” the Judge said.
And she did have that testimony. She wouldn’t be lying. The Judge had been playing this game a long time.
“However, we will also announce that due to the possibility that the guard who observed your entry into the chamber during lunch could have been deceived, we need more evidence. We have simply chosen to detain you until we know more.”
“So how does telling the other lords...” Drake paused as he immediately sussed it out. “Oh, hell. You want to use me as bait.”
Lord Frostlight grinned at him. “Your enemies do seem remarkably determined to kill you. They will want to do so before the noble court decides you are correct in your assertion that they can change what people see. Even so, it is exceedingly difficult to reach and assassinate someone in the noble court’s chambers... unless you can make the guards see anything.”
“So your plan is to put me in a nice guest prison, make it known to every manor lord that I’m there, and then... arrest whatever assassin comes to kill me?”
“I knew you would see it my way,” Lord Frostlight said.
“Except that if you fail, I die.”
“You seem far too resourceful for that,” Lord Frostlight said. “But if you die, I will help the noble court expose your enemies and whoever is behind this plot.”
“That’ll be real comforting when I’m dead.” He frowned. “But so far, this sounds like the whole plot is executed by the Judge. How are you involved?”
“I am the one who will catch your killer,” Lord Frostlight said. “Or rather, my thrall. I have a thrall who maintains a bubble of awareness that can detect any living soul that enters it. I will station this thrall inside a locked room with me off the only hallway leading to the chamber where you will be kept. And when your assassin arrives, I will take them alive.”
“And what will the capital guards be doing while I’m trusting my life to you?”
The Judge sighed. “If this dangerous and reckless plan is to work, I cannot allow the capital guards to know our plan. We have hundreds of people, all of whom talk, and every manor lord has many talented spies. The only way this plan has the slightest chance of working is if you, me, and Lord Frostlight are the only ones who know what is going on.”
“Which is why you insisted I come here alone.” Drake frowned. “You don’t want even my own people knowing we’re doing this, if we do this, to stop spies.” He looked at Lord Frostlight. “So what about your bubble awareness thrall? What if he blabs?”
“I tell my thralls nothing they do not need to know,” Frostlight said. “And they obey.”
Drake believed that. “So your thrall will know to alert you when she detects someone coming to kill me, but not know why you want her to tell you or what you plan to do.”
Frostlight nodded. “If you wish, I will also offer you lessons on how best to manage your blood thralls. From what I know of your current techniques, you could be more efficient.”
“I’ll pass,” Drake said.
“On my plan to finally unmask and destroy your enemies for you, or my guidance in efficiently leading your thralls?”
“The last one. I’m still considering this halfway crazy plan. I can’t say I’m thrilled by the idea of placing my life in the hands of someone allied with Lord Proudglade—”
“Not anymore,” Lord Frostlight reminded him.
“—but I imagine you’re going to make me feel better about that. Aren’t you?”
Lord Frostlight nodded. “Lord Gloomwood, if you agree to my plan, I will not harm you. I will forbid my thralls from harming you. And until we discover who is trying to kill you, I will protect you as if we were allied manor lords... but only if you can say the same to me.”
If Drake had any of his own people protect him, which the Judge had no reason to allow, the other manor lords might figure out this was a trick. His thralls had to remain exactly where they were if there was going to be any chance his enemies would fall for this. Which meant he had to have someone protecting him they wouldn’t expect.
“There is one other matter on which I must be clear,” the Judge said. “As much as Lord Frostlight would wish it otherwise, I will not launch this plot unless you agree. If you choose not to participate, I do not plan to take you into custody for the sea gate incident... yet.”
That was a considerable olive branch. The Judge could have threatened to arrest him if he didn’t go along with this plan and had instead offered him a way out. That made him all the more inclined to trust her... and she, having been at this so long, must know that.
Also, there was another consideration. The noble court had, thus far, done jack shit to find evidence against Lord Redbow. The other manor lords would continue to press for them to name the guilty party and let everyone get on with their lives. If the noble court couldn’t find any new evidence, they might be forced to resort to the evidence they did have.
Drake had to act, and soon, and now he had a plot before him that actually had some chance of success. It wasn’t his plot, but he could understand it.
Also... he was simply tired of countering his enemy’s moves after the fact. Whoever had been fucking with him since he arrived was going to come at him again. At least if he went along with this, he’d know how they planned to come at him... and could hit back.
“I need some assurances first,” he said.
The Judge nodded. “Name them.”
“First, I need to know I can leave protective custody whenever I want.”
“That will be difficult without informing my guards that you are not in protective custody.”
“So give them a safe word,” Drake said.
The Judge raised one eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“Like... tell your guards to listen for a phrase. Tell them that if I say that phrase, they should come directly to you for further instructions. They don’t have to know what the phrase means or what you’re going to do when I say it, only that they should immediately report to you I’ve said it when I say it. And if they tell you I’ve said it, you have to let me go.”
“That seems clever enough,” the Judge agreed. “What phrase do you wish to use?”
Drake pondered but a moment. “This is some bullshit.”
The Judge might have smiled. He couldn’t be sure. “Very well, Lord Gloomwood.”
“Also, after I’m taken into custody, you need to allow my steward to speak to me wherever I’m imprisoned, and as often as she likes. I need to speak to her to keep up with my manor’s business while I’m staying as your guest. And unless I tell Lydia, myself, why I’m doing this, she won’t stand for it.”
Lord Frostlight eyed him curiously. “For a man who is so gentle and light-handed with his thralls, you have remarkable confidence in their loyalty.”
“It’s because they want to serve me that I trust them to have my back,” Drake said. “So if you like, I can give you a few lessons about that.”
Frostlight’s laugh was far more pleasant than he expected, given she was an assassin who hunted people for fun. “I have no objection to allowing your steward to visit you, and I do believe it would be in all our interests. I wouldn’t want your Lydia doing anything rash.”
Drake nodded. “I might be just about willing to go along with this.”
“And what of Lord Skybreak?” Frostlight asked coyly. “Rumors say she is quite enamored of her new ally.”
“She’s not in love with me,” Drake assured them both. “But I will have Lydia clue her into our scheme. It would seem suspicious if you let Lord Skybreak visit me.” He considered. “Lord Skybreak also knows better than to piss off the noble court, especially if I’m in no immediate danger. She and Lady Skybreak will instead focus on proving my innocence.”
Lord Frostlight eyed him curiously. “Tell me, Lord Gloomwood. Is there any woman with whom you are involved who you have not ensnared with your charms?”
Drake frowned at her. “Look, I am charming. But I’ve also turned out to be rather fucking good at this, and the trust I’ve earned goes both ways. You should try it sometime.”
“Would that I had anyone I could trust,” Lord Frostlight said wistfully.
That gave Drake pause. Did she mean that? She must mean that... which meant being Lord Frostlight sounded rather lonely. Still, he wasn’t about to go soft on her now. And he was, dammit all, actually on board with this half-assed plan.
Every self-preserving instinct in his body urged him not to risk himself, but if he wanted to finally end the threat to him, his people, and his manor, he had to risk himself. There was no one else who could draw his enemies into doing something so reckless as trying to assassinate a manor lord in the protective custody of the noble court. He had to bait them into it.
So Drake would allow the Judge and her capital guards to put him in a nice cell. He would place his life in the hands of a ruthless manor lord who yesterday had been his enemy. He would face anyone who made it past Lord Frostlight unarmed and without his protectors.
This decision was almost certainly going to bite him in the ass. It always did. But doing something was better than waiting around for his enemies to launch their next attack. At least now he would be choosing to get fucked over and be ready when it happened.
“Any chance I could bring my crossbow with me into protective custody?” he asked.
“No,” the Judge said. “But I will see that a sharp sword is placed in your room.”
Drake glared. “The fuck am I going to do with a sword?”
Lord Frostlight frowned at him. “Generally, Lord Gloomwood, one stabs people with it.”
“Right, but shooting them from fifty paces is way safer.”
“If we are to do this, we must do it now,” the Judge said. “No one will believe I intended to take you into protective custody if I release you now. That is another reason I approached you as I did. Your thralls will assume that I requested you come alone so I could arrest you.”
“Right, sure.” Drake sighed. “Guess we better get on with it.” The sooner he put this crazy plan into motion, the less chance he’d chicken out and change his mind.
Preparations were quick. Lord Frostlight left soon after, and then the Judge ushered him out of her office and back to Atticus the Train Conductor. As Atticus escorted him past the people making copies, Drake was surprised to spot Westin walking toward him.
He stopped. “Westin?”
“Lord Gloomwood!” The blond man stared at him in surprise. “What are you doing down here?”
“I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell you that. You?”
He grimaced. “I have been summoned.”
“Ah.” So the Judge was continuing to interview people about the sea gate incident. “Any idea who made those fish people appear?”
Westin grimaced. “I cannot discuss my suspicions with anyone but the Judge.”
“But you have suspicions.”
“Lord Gloomwood,” Atticus said. “We should be on our way.”
“Right, sure.” As they passed, Drake nodded. “See you later, man.”
“Yes,” Westin said softly as he walked away. “See you.”
Drake silently considered Lord Frostlight’s motivations and claims as he debated how to handle her offer. One thing he would give this world was that knowing people could only say what they believed made decisions like this a lot less complicated. Unless Lord Frostlight herself had been tricked.
Yet why would her allies have tricked her in regards to killing the old Lord Frostlight? They’d wanted exactly what they had right now—a Lord Frostlight as part of their alliance—and until today, this former assassin had no reason to sell out her allies. Until today, she’d had no idea they could trick blood thralls into unwittingly betraying their lords.
Yet now that Drake had revealed there was a blood thrall who could alter what people saw, Lord Frostlight knew she, too, was vulnerable. So it made sense she’d seize on Drake’s implication that the big four were also trying to deceive the noble court and run with it. She’d hopped onto the train he’d started to survive.
So now... the question was whether he’d cooperate with Lord Frostlight or continue to try to handle this with Sky. The first part of figuring that out would be hearing her plan.
“You’ve convinced me to listen,” Drake said. “So let’s hear your plan and why you need me for it.”
Frostlight smiled. “To start, Lord Gloomwood, you will agree to be arrested.”
“I’m out,” Drake said.
“Please hear her out before you decide,” the Judge said crossly. “And this would be protective custody.” Her glare at Lord Frostlight made the woman’s smile fade.
Drake glanced at the Judge. “In my world, those are pretty much the same thing.”
The Judge watched him calmly. “I told you my inquisitors have no proof Lord Redbow was responsible for placing the sea gate that summoned those kromians into the Chamber of Council. We do, however, have testimony stating you were involved.”
Drake pondered smashing the door open and making a break for it. Even if he managed to regenerate through Lord Frostlight’s windshear and whatever magical bullshit the Judge’s ultimatum was capable of, he’d never make it. Also, fleeing would make him look guilty.
“Testimony from a thrall?” Drake asked. “Who we now know could be mistaken?”
“That is the only reason I have not already ordered you arrested,” the Judge said. “That, and the fact that you willingly confessed your crime of trading magical artifacts with Lord Skybreak despite knowing it would lead to you being censured. I believe, perhaps foolishly, that you genuinely wish to atone for your crimes and improve your standing with the noble court.”
“They weren’t my crimes.” Drake raised one hand as the Judge tried to correct him. “But we’re arguing semantics. So, you’re asking me to let myself be arrested?”
“I’m trusting that you are the manor lord you claim to be. A lord who saved the son of his sworn enemy despite it being easier to allow him to die. A lord who risked his life to stop a demon summoning. And a lord who would never seek to deceive the noble court.”
That last one was dangerously close to getting him executed for an unforgivable crime. The Judge didn’t know he could lie. She could never know. But it was reassuring to hear she still trusted him. So how long would she continue to trust him if he refused to cooperate?
“I didn’t place that gate there, nor did Lydia,” Drake said. “Also, it would have been stupid of me to place that gate there, since the arrival of those kromians led to the death of my only ally in the chamber other than Lord Skybreak.” Even if Blackmane had been a lecher. “It also ended a cabal where I was this close to getting answers as to who was behind all this.”
“We were this close,” Lord Frostlight corrected with a dangerous smile.
“That is another reason you are not under arrest,” the Judge said. “Now that I know it is possible to fool our people, I am hesitant to trust any testimony we receive without further verification. By allowing my inquisitors to so easily find evidence that you were behind the sea gate, your enemy has taken one step too many. I believe it is possible for you to be mentally unwell, but I have trouble believing you are this mentally unwell.”
“Check back with me after a couple more weeks of this bullshit,” Drake said. “So you know I didn’t summon fish people because it would be the stupidest thing I could possibly do, and our grand plan starts with me being taken into protective custody. Then what?”
“We will announce to the other manor lords that we have testimony implicating you in placing the sea gate in Lord Blackmane’s box,” the Judge said.
And she did have that testimony. She wouldn’t be lying. The Judge had been playing this game a long time.
“However, we will also announce that due to the possibility that the guard who observed your entry into the chamber during lunch could have been deceived, we need more evidence. We have simply chosen to detain you until we know more.”
“So how does telling the other lords...” Drake paused as he immediately sussed it out. “Oh, hell. You want to use me as bait.”
Lord Frostlight grinned at him. “Your enemies do seem remarkably determined to kill you. They will want to do so before the noble court decides you are correct in your assertion that they can change what people see. Even so, it is exceedingly difficult to reach and assassinate someone in the noble court’s chambers... unless you can make the guards see anything.”
“So your plan is to put me in a nice guest prison, make it known to every manor lord that I’m there, and then... arrest whatever assassin comes to kill me?”
“I knew you would see it my way,” Lord Frostlight said.
“Except that if you fail, I die.”
“You seem far too resourceful for that,” Lord Frostlight said. “But if you die, I will help the noble court expose your enemies and whoever is behind this plot.”
“That’ll be real comforting when I’m dead.” He frowned. “But so far, this sounds like the whole plot is executed by the Judge. How are you involved?”
“I am the one who will catch your killer,” Lord Frostlight said. “Or rather, my thrall. I have a thrall who maintains a bubble of awareness that can detect any living soul that enters it. I will station this thrall inside a locked room with me off the only hallway leading to the chamber where you will be kept. And when your assassin arrives, I will take them alive.”
“And what will the capital guards be doing while I’m trusting my life to you?”
The Judge sighed. “If this dangerous and reckless plan is to work, I cannot allow the capital guards to know our plan. We have hundreds of people, all of whom talk, and every manor lord has many talented spies. The only way this plan has the slightest chance of working is if you, me, and Lord Frostlight are the only ones who know what is going on.”
“Which is why you insisted I come here alone.” Drake frowned. “You don’t want even my own people knowing we’re doing this, if we do this, to stop spies.” He looked at Lord Frostlight. “So what about your bubble awareness thrall? What if he blabs?”
“I tell my thralls nothing they do not need to know,” Frostlight said. “And they obey.”
Drake believed that. “So your thrall will know to alert you when she detects someone coming to kill me, but not know why you want her to tell you or what you plan to do.”
Frostlight nodded. “If you wish, I will also offer you lessons on how best to manage your blood thralls. From what I know of your current techniques, you could be more efficient.”
“I’ll pass,” Drake said.
“On my plan to finally unmask and destroy your enemies for you, or my guidance in efficiently leading your thralls?”
“The last one. I’m still considering this halfway crazy plan. I can’t say I’m thrilled by the idea of placing my life in the hands of someone allied with Lord Proudglade—”
“Not anymore,” Lord Frostlight reminded him.
“—but I imagine you’re going to make me feel better about that. Aren’t you?”
Lord Frostlight nodded. “Lord Gloomwood, if you agree to my plan, I will not harm you. I will forbid my thralls from harming you. And until we discover who is trying to kill you, I will protect you as if we were allied manor lords... but only if you can say the same to me.”
If Drake had any of his own people protect him, which the Judge had no reason to allow, the other manor lords might figure out this was a trick. His thralls had to remain exactly where they were if there was going to be any chance his enemies would fall for this. Which meant he had to have someone protecting him they wouldn’t expect.
“There is one other matter on which I must be clear,” the Judge said. “As much as Lord Frostlight would wish it otherwise, I will not launch this plot unless you agree. If you choose not to participate, I do not plan to take you into custody for the sea gate incident... yet.”
That was a considerable olive branch. The Judge could have threatened to arrest him if he didn’t go along with this plan and had instead offered him a way out. That made him all the more inclined to trust her... and she, having been at this so long, must know that.
Also, there was another consideration. The noble court had, thus far, done jack shit to find evidence against Lord Redbow. The other manor lords would continue to press for them to name the guilty party and let everyone get on with their lives. If the noble court couldn’t find any new evidence, they might be forced to resort to the evidence they did have.
Drake had to act, and soon, and now he had a plot before him that actually had some chance of success. It wasn’t his plot, but he could understand it.
Also... he was simply tired of countering his enemy’s moves after the fact. Whoever had been fucking with him since he arrived was going to come at him again. At least if he went along with this, he’d know how they planned to come at him... and could hit back.
“I need some assurances first,” he said.
The Judge nodded. “Name them.”
“First, I need to know I can leave protective custody whenever I want.”
“That will be difficult without informing my guards that you are not in protective custody.”
“So give them a safe word,” Drake said.
The Judge raised one eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“Like... tell your guards to listen for a phrase. Tell them that if I say that phrase, they should come directly to you for further instructions. They don’t have to know what the phrase means or what you’re going to do when I say it, only that they should immediately report to you I’ve said it when I say it. And if they tell you I’ve said it, you have to let me go.”
“That seems clever enough,” the Judge agreed. “What phrase do you wish to use?”
Drake pondered but a moment. “This is some bullshit.”
The Judge might have smiled. He couldn’t be sure. “Very well, Lord Gloomwood.”
“Also, after I’m taken into custody, you need to allow my steward to speak to me wherever I’m imprisoned, and as often as she likes. I need to speak to her to keep up with my manor’s business while I’m staying as your guest. And unless I tell Lydia, myself, why I’m doing this, she won’t stand for it.”
Lord Frostlight eyed him curiously. “For a man who is so gentle and light-handed with his thralls, you have remarkable confidence in their loyalty.”
“It’s because they want to serve me that I trust them to have my back,” Drake said. “So if you like, I can give you a few lessons about that.”
Frostlight’s laugh was far more pleasant than he expected, given she was an assassin who hunted people for fun. “I have no objection to allowing your steward to visit you, and I do believe it would be in all our interests. I wouldn’t want your Lydia doing anything rash.”
Drake nodded. “I might be just about willing to go along with this.”
“And what of Lord Skybreak?” Frostlight asked coyly. “Rumors say she is quite enamored of her new ally.”
“She’s not in love with me,” Drake assured them both. “But I will have Lydia clue her into our scheme. It would seem suspicious if you let Lord Skybreak visit me.” He considered. “Lord Skybreak also knows better than to piss off the noble court, especially if I’m in no immediate danger. She and Lady Skybreak will instead focus on proving my innocence.”
Lord Frostlight eyed him curiously. “Tell me, Lord Gloomwood. Is there any woman with whom you are involved who you have not ensnared with your charms?”
Drake frowned at her. “Look, I am charming. But I’ve also turned out to be rather fucking good at this, and the trust I’ve earned goes both ways. You should try it sometime.”
“Would that I had anyone I could trust,” Lord Frostlight said wistfully.
That gave Drake pause. Did she mean that? She must mean that... which meant being Lord Frostlight sounded rather lonely. Still, he wasn’t about to go soft on her now. And he was, dammit all, actually on board with this half-assed plan.
Every self-preserving instinct in his body urged him not to risk himself, but if he wanted to finally end the threat to him, his people, and his manor, he had to risk himself. There was no one else who could draw his enemies into doing something so reckless as trying to assassinate a manor lord in the protective custody of the noble court. He had to bait them into it.
So Drake would allow the Judge and her capital guards to put him in a nice cell. He would place his life in the hands of a ruthless manor lord who yesterday had been his enemy. He would face anyone who made it past Lord Frostlight unarmed and without his protectors.
This decision was almost certainly going to bite him in the ass. It always did. But doing something was better than waiting around for his enemies to launch their next attack. At least now he would be choosing to get fucked over and be ready when it happened.
“Any chance I could bring my crossbow with me into protective custody?” he asked.
“No,” the Judge said. “But I will see that a sharp sword is placed in your room.”
Drake glared. “The fuck am I going to do with a sword?”
Lord Frostlight frowned at him. “Generally, Lord Gloomwood, one stabs people with it.”
“Right, but shooting them from fifty paces is way safer.”
“If we are to do this, we must do it now,” the Judge said. “No one will believe I intended to take you into protective custody if I release you now. That is another reason I approached you as I did. Your thralls will assume that I requested you come alone so I could arrest you.”
“Right, sure.” Drake sighed. “Guess we better get on with it.” The sooner he put this crazy plan into motion, the less chance he’d chicken out and change his mind.
Preparations were quick. Lord Frostlight left soon after, and then the Judge ushered him out of her office and back to Atticus the Train Conductor. As Atticus escorted him past the people making copies, Drake was surprised to spot Westin walking toward him.
He stopped. “Westin?”
“Lord Gloomwood!” The blond man stared at him in surprise. “What are you doing down here?”
“I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell you that. You?”
He grimaced. “I have been summoned.”
“Ah.” So the Judge was continuing to interview people about the sea gate incident. “Any idea who made those fish people appear?”
Westin grimaced. “I cannot discuss my suspicions with anyone but the Judge.”
“But you have suspicions.”
“Lord Gloomwood,” Atticus said. “We should be on our way.”
“Right, sure.” As they passed, Drake nodded. “See you later, man.”
“Yes,” Westin said softly as he walked away. “See you.”
